Escalating harassment of journalists by Palestinian security forces in the West Bank threatens press freedom and freedom of expression.
This statement was originally published on madacenter.org on 10 January 2025.
The Palestinian Center for Development and Media Freedoms (MADA) expresses its deep concern over the ongoing assaults and harassment of journalists in the West Bank by Palestinian security forces. These actions have notably escalated in recent days, constituting a violation of media freedoms and freedom of expression as guaranteed by the Palestinian Basic Law and international conventions.
The Palestinian Intelligence Service detained journalist MAHMOUD MATAR MAHMOUD, a program presenter at “Al-Quran Al-Kareem” Radio, on Monday morning, 6th Jan., as he was heading to an interview. According to updates from MADA’s legal team, the journalist’s detention was extended by the Nablus Prosecutor’s Office on Wednesday, 7th Jan., for an additional 24 hours under the charge of “weapon possession”. On Thursday, 8th Jan., a request was made to extend his detention before the Nablus Magistrate Court, which decided to extend his detention for 15 more days for investigative purposes.
Additionally, on Wednesday, 8th Jan., members of the Palestinian security forces detained journalist JARRAH WALID KHALAF, a reporter for “Quds Feed” while he was heading to his hometown in Jenin. The security forces stopped the vehicle he was traveling in and, upon requesting him to unlock his phone, he refused. As a result, he was physically assaulted and detained. He is currently being held by the Palestinian Intelligence Service under the “governor’s authority”.
Furthermore, the Palestinian Preventive Security Service summoned journalist SALAH AL-DIN ABU HASSAN, the program director at “Radio Alam”, for questioning on Wednesday, 8th Jan. His interrogation, which lasted about two hours, focused on his journalistic work at the radio station, including the nature of the programs aired. The journalist was made to sign a pledge committing to abide by the laws and to maintain neutrality and professionalism in his journalistic work.
In another incident, journalist LAITH JAAR was summoned yesterday evening, Thursday, 9th Jan., to the police station in the town of “Allar”, north of Tulkarem, where he was officially notified not to appear on “Al-Jazeera” until the channel’s closure order is lifted.
MADA condemns these escalating assaults, considering them a direct threat to the role of journalism in conveying the truth. These actions also hinder journalists’ ability to perform their professional duties without fear or intimidation. MADA calls on the Palestinian security forces to respect the role of journalists, ensure their protection, and immediately halt all forms of harassment. MADA demands the immediate and unconditional release of journalists MAHMOUD MATAR and JARRAH KHALAF, and calls for an end to all actions targeting journalists and media freedoms in the West Bank.
